Moving Beyond Plastic: National Co+op Grocers Program at Expo West Explores Packaging Alternatives

This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s April 2022 Industry Newsletter

 By Steven Hoffman

What are the pain points, and where have manufacturers, distributors and retailers made progress in finding sustainable alternatives to a world awash in non-biodegradable plastic packaging waste? That was the topic of conversation at a recent panel held on March 10, 2022, at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim CA, co-hosted by National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Presence Marketing.

The natural products channel, like most, has embraced plastic over the years for its obvious benefits: it’s durable, lightweight, versatile, cost effective and helps lengthen shelf life and ensure food safety, among other attributes.

However, much plastic packaging is designed for single use, and as such, according to data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 69% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills or the ocean. The rate of recycling of PET bottles and jars was 29% in 2018. Same for HDPE containers – only 29.3% of these containers were recycled. In the U.S., plastic products generation increased by 4.3 million tons from 2010-2018, due in large part to an increase in plastic packaging production. After food, plastics are the second-most-common type of materials to be sent to a landfill, according to the EPA. The issue is of such concern that National Geographic  warned that the amount of plastic trash in our oceans is expected to nearly triple to 29 million metric tons by 2040, unless society takes drastic action.

In striving to take the lead and set a positive example, NCG identified a number of advocacy initiatives for the organization and its members, including promoting waste reduction and alternative packaging at the manufacturer and distributor level. In particular, NCG works with industry partners to research and provide the most environmentally friendly options possible in NCG programs and services, including tangible items such as branded packaging, to help reduce plastic packaging in the waste stream, according to the co-op organization’s website.

In this panel, hosted by Heidi Traore, Supplier Relationship Development Manager for NCG, and Milton Zimmerman, EVP of Presence Marketing, and moderated by Steven Hoffman of brand marketing and PR agency Compass Natural, the following industry leaders offered their insights, and highlights of their responses are below.

• Alyssa Harding, Packaging Collaborative Director, One Step Closer, and Senior Consultant, Anthesis Group

• Blair Kellison, CEO, Traditional Medicinals

• Ricardo Perdigao, CFO/COO, Sambazon

• Dave Pirazzini, Director of R&D, REBBL

Q: Where do you believe the pain points are for most brands in terms of their packaging?

- Alyssa Harding: “Companies are successfully reducing the amounts used for their product packaging, but rather than reinvesting the saved money on further R&D, many are keeping the money as profit. It is important for longer term profitability and sustainability to take your saved money and reinvest it back into research to find sustainable packaging solutions.”

- Blair Kellison: Everything in life is possible, and we need to focus our resources on sustainable packaging. However, to the extent that ultimately economics is going to be a factor in driving this movement.” 

- Ricardo Perdigao: “Reducing waste and solving the current issues in product packaging cannot be corrected with just one solution, but the combination of many solutions across the supply chain. Changing the established manufacturing system and concept is one of the biggest challenges. As business leaders, you believe in something and you go after it. Our beliefs lead us to sustainable packaging.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “Manufacturing lines are full, so it can be difficult to find manufacturers to take the time and work with you on a perfect sustainable solution. Additionally, companies have confusion on the best materials, what is most recyclable, etc. For example, Tetra packaging is a solution, but only 55% of facilities in the U.S. can recycle it.”

Q: How is your company researching and making packaging materials reductions?

- Alyssa Harding: “There are opportunities to use less materials and remove unnecessary parts of your packaging while still being effective and appealing to consumers.”

- Blair Kellison: “Traditional Medicinals has been working on a sustainable packaging overwrap for the past six years. This is still in progress. Once completed, the company will begin using compostable overwrap.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “Control what you can. REBBL reduced the amount of corrugate in its packaging with no negative effects to its product packaging or presentation.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “If we can make things from plants, and turn them back into plants, that is a promising solution we are exploring.”

Q: What has been a success in your packaging journey?

- Alyssa Harding: “The opportunity through One Step Closer to offer sustainable packaging expertise and counsel tailored to a number of mission-based natural products companies.”

- Blair Kellison: “Recycling aside, let’s just not produce waste to begin with. Last year in 2021, Traditional Medicinals got zero waste certified.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “First, set an objective, track progress, and work toward that objective. In its bowl products, Sambazon successfully converted its packaging to paper and plant fiber. The company is ahead of schedule on achieving ‘zero waste’, and 70% of its products are recyclable.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “REBBL changed its practice to shipping flattened empty bottles to our manufacturing plant, therefore reducing having to ship amounts of the larger, empty blown bottles. We started blowing the bottles on our own manufacturing lines; blowing bottles is when the plastic bottle shape is formed to be ready to fill.”

Q: What can retailers do to help?

- Alyssa Harding: “Cut out waste in the deli and bulk section, and reduce/eliminate single-sized plastics available in the store. Run an analysis of your store and locate your largest materials of consumption and begin your project right there. Start with your own footprint, and then move to helping the brands that are carried in your retail store.”

Blair Kellison: “If we have lost the business of our co-ops, we have lost our business model. We must work together to make progress on such a significant issue.” – Blair Kellison

- Ricardo Perdigao: “Consult with your business partners, express your objectives, and work together to succeed with sustainable packaging for your brand.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “If we are all truly mission driven and strive for sustainable packaging to better the industry, we should share our successes and help each other to succeed in this movement.”

Q: Closing comments

- Alyssa Harding: “Your company can be philanthropic, while also being profitable.”

- Blair Kellison: “We don’t just talk the talk; we want to walk the sustainable walk. To be a truly responsible business, we manage and measure our environmental impact and strive to minimize our footprint. The old adage ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’ is really true in our experience.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “The most powerful marketing is your people. Hire a staff with similar values. Have your whole company telling people about the importance of sustainable packaging. Word of mouth is important.

- Dave Pirazzini: “As manufacturers, retailers and industry members, this is an important conversation in which we all must engage. I feel like I got as much out of this panel as the audience. It was great for me to learn about what other companies are doing with their sustainability initiatives.”

Resources: Learn more

• One Step Closer to Zero Waste:  https://osc2.org/zerowaste/

• National Co+op Grocers Advocacy Initiatives: https://www.ncg.coop/advocacy-activities-national-coop-grocers

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Market for Certified Glyphosate Residue Free Products Grew 170% Year over Year

Photo: Pexels

This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s January 2022 Industry Newsletter

By Steve Hoffman

Leading market research provider SPINS reported in partnership with the Detox Project that sales of products that are certified Glyphosate Residue Free increased 170% year over year, from $197 million the previous year to $533 million in 2021. The Glyphosate Residue Free certification program was launched by the Detox Project in 2017, reported Sustainable Pulse. It is now one of the fastest growing certification programs in North America, according to a recent study conducted by Linkage Research & Consulting. 

More than 90 brands have certified some or all of their products as Glyphosate Residue Free, including Oatly, MegaFood, Uncle Matt’s, Wedderspoon, Bluebird Botanicals, Malk, Nutiva, Once Upon a Farm, Califia Farms, Chobani and others. The certification program is administered by the Detox Project, a research and certification platform that supports transparency in food and supplements. 

Henry Rowlands, Director of The Detox Project, said in a statement that “it is encouraging to see that consumers are becoming more aware of the harm that environmental toxins such as glyphosate can cause to themselves and their families. We support a toxic free future for our children and this can only be reached through mass public awareness. Food and supplement brands play a vital role in keeping consumers safe from toxic chemicals. The unsustainable industrial agricultural system, which has been poisoning the planet for so many decades, Is based on one single chemical – glyphosate. It is about time that we move towards a more regenerative future with glyphosate-based weed killers left in the past, where they belong,” Rowlands concluded.

Nestlé, World’s Largest Food Company, to Invest $1.3 Billion in Regenerative Agriculture

Photo: Pexels

This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s October 2021 Industry Newsletter

By Steve Hoffman

With agriculture accounting for nearly two-thirds of Nestlé’s total greenhouse gas emissions – with dairy and livestock accounting for half of that – the world’s largest food company announced on Sept. 16, 2021, that it is investing $1.3 billion over the next five years to help its farmers and suppliers transition to regenerative agriculture practices.

“With our long-standing partnerships with farming communities globally, we want to increase our support for farming practices that are good for the environment and good for people,” said Mark Schneider, CEO of the Swiss-based food company in a statement. “In the spirit of enabling a just transition it is vital that we support farmers around the world that take on the risks and costs associated with the move towards regenerative agriculture.”

Nestlé’s Chairman, Paul Bulcke, added, "We know that regenerative agriculture plays a critical role in improving soil health, restoring water cycles and increasing biodiversity for the long term. These outcomes form the foundation of sustainable food production and, crucially, also contribute to achieving our ambitious climate targets." 

According to Food Business News, Nestlé said it will focus primarily on three initiatives. First, Nestlé said it will use its network of R&D personnel and agronomists to develop more environmentally friendly crops and production practices. Second, the company said it will offer training and help producers exchange information and best practices that may be adapted locally, and that it will support farmers by co-investing with them, facilitating lending or helping obtain loans for equipment. Third, Nestlé said it is committed to paying premium prices for products produced using regenerative agriculture practices. 

“This means rewarding farmers not only for the quantity and quality of ingredients, but also for the benefits they provide to the environment through soil protection, water management and carbon sequestration,” the company said.

Nestlé’s announcement was made in the lead up to the UN Food Systems Summit in New York, as part of Nestle's contribution to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the company said. It also follows the recent report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shows the climate crisis is intensifying, it added.

Packaging in 2020: Will CPG Companies Take the Lead on Plastic?

Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News and New Hope Network’s Idea Xchange, January 2020
By Steven Hoffman

Presenting the theme, “Plastic Free by 2033,” Presence Marketing, in partnership with National Co+op Crocers (NCG), will host a panel on sustainable packaging solutions for natural products businesses at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA.

With its processing facilities and environment overwhelmed by handling nearly half the world’s waste for the past quarter century, China isn’t taking the U.S.’ recyclable waste anymore. And as costs skyrocket, many cities and municipalities across America have stopped plastic and paper recycling programs. As we enter the “post-recycling age,” according to retail innovation expert Piers Fawkes, consumers and businesses are becoming acutely aware that much of the amount of product packaging we generate ends up as waste that is choking landfills and the oceans. 

Those of us in the natural products market may be more aware of these issues than much of the population, but as owners and operators of consumer products companies, we also are responsible for much of the single-use plastic packaging making its way into the environment. 

Certainly, sustainable packaging is an issue that goes beyond natural products companies. As we enter a new decade, any industry using product packaging that is not recyclable, reusable, compostable or elsewise environmentally friendly is facing growing consumer backlash and the higher cost of creating and disposing of waste in what is being termed the circular economy.

Not all is gloom and doom, however. Innovation in sustainable consumer products packaging is happening, and a number of natural and organic products leaders, as well as some larger food and beverage and CPG corporations, are setting the pace. The good news is many businesses are taking action, from the emergence of dedicated bulk retail stores to TerraCycle’s Project Loop and Nestlé’s Institute of Packaging Sciences. Other manufacturers are investigating how to create sanitary single-serve containers without the waste. Shippers, too, are expanding the use of bio-based pallet wrap, corrugated bubble wrap, mushroom-based packaging, software to reduce waste, and more. And as the garbage piles up, sustainable packaging innovation comes not a moment too soon. 

Here are some highlights from companies that have been in the news recently for taking action to reduce the impact their product packaging has on the environment.

TerraCycle and Loop – Claiming it is boldly re-inventing waste-free packaging, renowned recycling firm TerraCycle unveiled at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos a service called Loop, which it says is a new approach to the days when the milkman collected reusable empty bottles and replaced them with refilled ones. Instead of the milkman, however, the local UPS driver delivers products from companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Nestlé, PepsiCo and others in durable, non-disposable packaging designed for multiple reuse before ultimately being recycled. When the products are consumed, the UPS driver returns to pick up the used packaging and sends it back to Loop where it will be cleaned, refilled and resold once again. Since its launch with a few hundred products in a handful of cities, Loop has engaged more than 10,000 consumers and a number of large household brands, as well as leading natural products companies.

Nature’s Path – Organic food leader Nature’s Path has committed to making all of its packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and was a founding brand partner with Loop, the reusable packaging program that launched earlier this year. The company is exploring fully compostable packaging, including films that will keep its breakfast foods fresh. It also is working toward fully recyclable plastic packaging. “As part of our 2025 packaging commitment, we’re currently testing new packaging options such as reusable (LOOP) and compostable with the OSC2 Sustainable Packaging Collaborative in the U.S.,” said Manuel Gorrin, Sustainability Manager for Nature's Path. The company also increased pallet efficiency by 17% for its Que Pasa Tortilla Chips line, reducing the number of truck loads and carbon emissions by 20 metric tons, the company says.

Pete and Jerry’s Organics – To reduce the need for packaging, nationally known organic egg producer Pete and Jerry’s Organics debuted a reusable egg carton in December 2019 at Hanover Co-op stores in New Hampshire and Vermont. The cartons, which retail for $2.99, are made from recycled BPA-free plastic and are refillable from a display of loose eggs discounted from a standard dozen to allow consumers to compensate for the initial investment in reusable packaging, the company said. "Reusable cartons are a logical next step in our ongoing commitment to sustainability, moving consumer behavior from recycling to reuse. We plan to expand this program in 2020 to reach even more consumers and amplify the program's impact with major retailers clamoring for this type of sustainable innovation," said Pete and Gerry's Organics CEO Jesse Laflamme.

Tom’s of Maine (Colgate-Palmolive) – After more than five years in development, the Colgate-Palmolive Co. announced it has finalized the design of what the company says is a “first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube.” The tube will debut in the U.S. this year under Colgate’s Tom’s of Maine brand. Roll-out to select international markets under the Colgate brand will follow. The company also says it plans to fully convert to recyclable tubes by 2025, when it says all of its products will be in 100% recyclable packaging.

Patagonia – In calling out the outdoor industry for its plastic problem – from product packaging to the plastic shrink wrap used to ship pallets to trade shows, the company used itself as a role model, and unveiled its own internal waste audit that it says can be used by manufacturers throughout the industry. “We shouldn't forget the pack-in, pack-out mentality we use in the backcountry when we hit the trade show floor,” the company said. "The trade show industry itself is large, complex and wasteful," Patagonia Environmental Analyst Tellez said. "Patagonia and the Plastic Impact Alliance can spearhead a theory of change to ensure meaningful, actionable impacts through collaboration–not just talk.”

Justin’s – Partnering with flexible packaging provider ProAmpac, Justin’s, maker of natural and organic nut butter products and snacks, began using a high-barrier pouch made with 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. “Finding ways to make our packaging more sustainable has been a long-time goal and continues to be something we’re committed to,” said Justin’s Founder and CEO Justin Gold. “We’re beyond excited to take another step in more sustainable packaging solutions with them.”

Meow Meow Tweet – By its own admission a “teeny company,” Meow Meow Tweet founder Tara Pelletier developed a formula for deodorant she loved, but couldn’t abide by the multiple plastic component parts – most of which are not readily recyclable – in the hard plastic containers used to house most deodorant products. Why, she asked, should a product she’d use for a few weeks or months come in a plastic case that would be around longer than she’d be alive? Searching for an alternative, Pelletier settled on a company that made sturdy paper tubes. While her team needs to hand-fill each tube and margins are “paper thin” because the tubes cost 60 times as much as mass-produced plastic options, it’s worth it, she says, not just because it makes ethical sense but to help demonstrate to others that there are workable, functional, creative alternatives to the plastic that has infiltrated every aspect of modern commerce, National Geographic reported. In related news, learn how other personal care companies are tackling the plastic problem in this New Hope Network report.

Tetra Pak – Shelf-stable packaging leader Tetra Pak announced in December 2019 that it has become “the first company in the food and beverage industry to responsibly source fully traceable plant-based polymers” using sustainably produced sugarcane. “We see plant-based materials as playing a key role in achieving a low-carbon circular economy. In the future all polymers we use will either be made from plant-based materials or from post-consumption recycled food grades,” said Mario Abreu, VP of Sustainability for Tetra Pak.

Giant Eagle - Grocery chain Giant Eagle claims it is the first major grocery retailer to commit to removing single-use plastic from its stores by 2025. “We know it’s a lofty target, and will involve conversations with many partners, but we feel strongly that committing to anything less will only limit our potential success,” said Dan Donovan, Giant Eagle’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications. The company says it will begin moving away from the use of plastic bags, straws, single-serve fresh food containers and bottled beverages. In related news, in 2019, national fast-food restaurant chain KFC said that by 2025 all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging will be “recoverable or reusable.” KFC said the move is part of a long-term plan to implement a more sustainable packaging strategy in its restaurants.

Carlsberg – International beer brand Carlsberg announced it is in the prototype phase in creating a sustainable, “bio-based,” fully recyclable paper beer bottle it calls the “Green Fibre Bottle.” The prototypes are being made from sustainably sourced wood fibers and either a recycled polymer film barrier or one made from bio-based polymers. The company says it has been working on the idea since 2015.

Procter & Gamble – Through its popular Head & Shoulders shampoo brand, P&G has launched what it says it the world’s first completely recyclable shampoo bottle. Teaming with recycling experts TerraCycle and SUEZ, P&G made the bottle with 25% recycled beach plastic. The company says it aims to make more than half a billion hair care bottles with 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. (That’s still a lot of plastic!)

Unilever – One of the world’s largest consumer products companies, Unilever, announced in October 2019 its commitment to reduce its use of virgin plastic by half, and a promise to help collect and process more plastic packaging than it sells. Cutting down on plastic is “the area that’s going to require the most innovation,” Richard Slater, Unilever’s head of research and development, told MSN News. Unilever currently generates 700,000 metric tons of plastic packaging each year, MSN News reports. (That, too, is a lot of plastic!)

Nestlé – Targeted among a number of CPG giants in a 2019 Greenpeace report as moving too slowly to phase out single-use plastic, Nestlé in 2019 established the Institute of Packaging Sciences to develop its own internal solutions rather than rely on suppliers, it said. The institute will focus on refillable or reusable packaging, simplified packaging materials, recycled packaging materials, high-performance paper and/or bio-based barriers, and compostable and biodegradable materials. Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said, "Our vision is a world in which none of our packaging ends up in landfill or as litter. To achieve this, we introduce reusable packaging solutions and pioneer environmentally friendly packaging materials. Furthermore, we support the development of local recycling infrastructure and deposit schemes to help shape a waste-free world." According to Nestlé, it was able to develop recycled paper packaging for its Yes snack bars and for Nesquik All Natural cocoa powder in less than a year. “This ambitious timeline shows more progress toward sustainability is possible if sufficient resources and ambition are applied,” said Food Dive.

Amazon – Since introducing its Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) program designed to reduce waste by providing consumers with easy-to-open packaging that also is 100% recyclable and shippable without the need for an additional box within a box, Amazon has expanded the program to include vendors. It has also taken other measures including using flexible, recyclable mailers for small items and optimizing box fit to avoid waste. However, adoption of the FFP program among vendors has been slow. Though time consuming, the FFP certification process can be worth it for sustainably minded brands selling on Amazon, advises digital marketing strategist Kevin Weiss in New Hope Network’s Idea Xchange.

Further Reading:

Coming Full Circle: Sustainable Retail in a Post-Recycling Age
By Piers Fawkes, founder and CEO of PSFK, Dec. 1, 2019
https://www.psfk.com/2019/12/sustainable-retail-circular-economy.html

10 Dynamo Sustainable Packaging Revelations of 2019
By Lisa McTigue Pierce, Packaging Digest, Dec. 11, 2019
https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainable-packaging/10-dynamo-sustainable-packaging-revelations-of-2019-2019-12-11

2020 Will Be the Year Major Brands (Finally) Rethink Packaging
By MindBodyGreen, Dec. 8, 2019
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/pepsico-unilever-and-more-make-using-less-plastic-easier

The Top 5 Packaging Trends for 2020
By Nathan Dube, Industrial Packaging, Nov. 14, 2019
https://www.industrialpackaging.com/blog/the-top-5-packaging-trends-for-2020

Pay Attention to These 2020 Packaging Trends
By The Unique Group, Nov. 25, 2019
https://theuniquegroup.com/pay-attention-to-these-2020-packaging-trends/

Packaging Trends in 2020 for Food and Beverages
By Gaurav Jain, Entrepreneur Magazine, Dec. 18, 2019
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/344012

Why Reusable Food Packaging Has a Promising Future
By Jessi Devenyms, Food Dive, June 25, 2019
https://www.fooddive.com/news/why-reusable-food-packaging-has-a-promising-future/557119/

New Method Upcycles Plastic Waste to Valuable Products
By New Hope Network, Oct. 25, 2019
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
https://www.newhope.com/news/new-method-upcycles-plastic-waste-valuable-products-0

Eco-friendly Plastic: Hemp & Reclaimed Ocean Packaging
By A.J. Herrington, The Hemp Magazine, May 8, 2019
https://thehempmag.com/2019/05/eco-friendly-plastic-hemp-reclaimed-ocean-packaging/

Aldi, Tesco Seek to Reduce Single-Use Plastic; Aldi Announces Bee Protection Plan

Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, December 2019
By Steven Hoffman

In a bid to help protect bees and other pollinators, leading grocer Aldi recently announced a plan to minimize its use of pesticides in the U.S. Aldi’s new “Pollinator Policy” is encouraging its suppliers of fruits, vegetables, live plants and flowers to phase out the use of chlorpyrifos and neonicotinoid pesticides – among the most toxic to bees. In addition, the policy further encourages suppliers to limit the use of non-essential pesticides and to use integrated pest management strategies that support the use of less toxic alternatives. 

Aldi further stated that it supports and encourages the growth of the organic industry, which it said in turn supports pollinator health. The announcement follows a multi-year campaign led by Friends of the Earth and others. A recent peer-reviewed study co-authored by Friends of the Earth shows that U.S. agriculture has become 48 times more toxic to bees and other insects since the introduction of neonicotinoid insecticides 25 years ago.

In related news, leading U.K. grocery chain Tesco in November announced plans to remove 1 billion pieces of plastic from its own privately branded products in its U.K. stores by 2021. The grocer said that it will remove plastic trays used for ready meals, replaced small plastic bags used for produce and baked goods with paper bags, stop including straws and sporks from drink and snack cartons, and remove secondary lids on items such as yogurt and cereals. In addition, Tesco said it will remove 200 million pieces of plastic currently used for greeting cards and clothing. The retailer says it has adopted a strategy of “remove, reduce, reuse, recycle.” In practice, Tesco says this means it will “remove non-recyclable and excess packaging from its business,” CNBC reported. 

Aldi, in turn, announced earlier this year that it plans to convert 100% of its packaging to reusable, recyclable or compostable materials by 2025. The grocer also pledged to reduce packaging for Aldi-exclusive products by at least 15% by 2020, reported Grocery Dive. In November, Aldi introduced a pilot program in more than 250 of its U.K. stores to make available reusable bags for fruits and vegetables. “We are committed to cutting the amount of plastic that Aldi and our customers use, particularly excess or single-use plastic like produce bags," Aldi’s managing director of corporate responsibility Fritz Walleczek told Fresh Fruit Portal. 

Earlier this year, Greenpeace ranked U.S. grocers on their efforts to reduce plastic waste. Aldi, Kroger, Albertson’s, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Wegman’s, Whole Foods and others rated highly. However, reported Supermarket News, Greenpeace noted that U.S. supermarkets have a long way to go to effectively address plastic pollution, in particular single-use plastics.

GMO Labeling Fight Goes to Washington

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Alarmed that pro-GMO labeling advocates may be gaining ground, opponents of GMO labeling took their money and influence to Washington, DC, in December to try to outlaw states from passing GMO labeling bills, and allow manufacturers to call their GMO products “natural.”H.R. 4432, called the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014 by bill sponsor Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), and backed by corporate agribusiness and mainstream food industry interests, seeks to prohibit states from exercising their right to label GMOs. Further, the bill would allow manufacturers to call GMO foods “natural.” Additionally, Pompeo's legislation, if passed, would create a “voluntary” labeling system over mandatory labeling, and would nullify GMO labeling laws already passed by Maine, Vermont and Connecticut.

While many in the food industry favor uniform national GMO labeling legislation over a patchwork of state laws, Pompeo’s bill, dubbed the DARK Act, or the “Deny Americans the Right to Know Act,” by opponents of the bill, seeks to take the teeth out of GMO labeling. Backers of H.R. 4432 hope to do away with mandatory labeling, while codifying FDA's voluntary labeling system. Currently, FDA does not require labeling for genetically modified foods. However, voluntary labeling has been in place since the mid-1990s, and yet few
to no companies have ever voluntarily labeled their products as containing GMOs.

On December 10, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s health panel held a hearing in Washington, DC, entitled “Examining FDA’s Role in the Regulation of Genetically Modified Ingredients.” Despite a growing body of scientific research pointing to environmental and health risks associated with GMOs, when asked by Congressional panel member George Butterfield (D-NC), “Is there a scintilla of evidence that would suggest that these foods are unsafe?,” FDA official Michael Landa responded, “Not to our knowledge, no.”

Representatives at the hearing were skeptical of the need for GMO labeling, claiming it would confuse consumers or that it was simply “illogical” and “irrational.” Rep. Pompeo claimed that GMO labeling would raise food prices dramatically for consumers.

In testifying at the Congressional hearing, Kate Webb, Assistant Majority Leader in the Vermont House of Representatives, cautioned that H.R. 4432 would ultimately undo the work of Vermont’s recently passed Act 120, the law that requires genetically engineered products sold in Vermont to be labeled as such. Webb was one of the primary sponsors of Act 120, which passed 28-2 in the state Senate and 114-30 in the Vermont House.

“Most people would greatly prefer a national mandatory labeling system and national rules designed to restrict misleading claims of products being ‘natural,’” Webb said at the hearing.

“One of the great strengths of a capitalist democracy is not only do we cast a vote at the polls, we also do so in selecting the products we purchase,” she said. “Transparency allows us to see how things work, be it government, financial institutions or the foods we eat—what is in them, where they come from, and how they are produced. This transparency allows us to make informed decisions, and ultimately build trust.” Webb urged the subcommittee to oppose H.R. 4432 and support the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered products.

Webb and Scott Faber, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Environmental Working Group, were the only two witnesses to testify against H.R. 4432. Other witnesses included Michael Landa, Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA; Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD, Biotechnology and Genomics Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California, Davis; Stacey Forshee, Fifth District Director, Kansas Farm Bureau; and Tom Dempsey, President and CEO of the Snack Food Association.

“Poll after poll shows that consumers want the right to know what’s in their food and how it’s produced,” said Scott Faber. “Because our food choices have such a significant impact on our lives, this is a trend that should be welcomed, not frustrated. So it’s disappointing that some members of Congress, led by Rep. Mike Pompeo, are fighting to deny Americans the right to know whether their food contains genetically modified ingredients.”

Major Food Brands Dump the Junk

Talk about a domino effect. One after another, from Pepsi to Panera, over a dozen major food brands and restaurant chains this past year have announced they are removing artificial colors, flavorings and preservatives, GMOs, antibiotics, and other ingredients deemed unhealthful by an increasingly discerning public from their products.

Driven by increased demand from Millennials for cleaner, healthier products, along with growing sales of natural and organic products across a broad spectrum of the US population – not to mention constant pressure by consumer advocacy groups and high-profile food activists – iconic food brands are dumping the junk and striving for a more health-oriented image.

One sign: people just aren’t drinking soda and eating junk food burgers as much as they used to. With fizzy soda sales on a long-term decline and 63% of Americans telling a Gallup survey last year that they are actively avoiding traditional soda drinks, “we’re operating in a very challenging environment,” Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent told analysts in a conference call in late April, reported the Washington Times.

For the quarter ending April 3, 2015, Coca-Cola reported a profit of $1.56 billion, or 35 cents a share, down 3.8% from the previous year. Global sales increased a modest 1%, the first growth in quarterly revenue in more than two years, reported the Washington Times.

After emerging rival Chipotle Mexican Grill – which announced recently that its menu is now non-GMO – reported that comparable-store sales were up 10.4% during the first quarter of 2015, McDonald's reported a 2.6% decline in same-store sales in the company's 14,000 U.S. locations during the quarter. Additionally revenue for McDonald’s for the quarter dropped 12% from $6.7 billion the previous year to just under $6 billion.

So, with mounting pressure from social media, consumer organizations, online petitions, and high-profile activists including GMO Inside, Vani Hari of Food Babe, Robyn O’Brien of Allergy Kids and others, combined with declining sales and profits for traditional junk foods, longstanding brands are retooling their recipes. Whether of their own volition, as in the case of Chipotle, or under pressure, recent examples of companies getting on board the clean label bandwagon include the following.

Chipotle says Adios to GMOs Making good on a two-year promise, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced in late April 2015 that it had removed all ingredients made with genetically modified organisms from its menu. The company's corn and flour tortillas were among the hardest items to change, but now they’re non-GMO, thanks to Chipotle's collaboration with suppliers to plant non-GMO corn varieties, reported NPR. GMO soybean oil in the chips and taco shells was replaced with non-GMO sunflower oil. However, Chipotle still uses meat from animals that may be fed on GMO corn or soybeans, admits CEO Steve Ells, though the company wants to change that, but it may take several years, he said.

Panera Drops Long List of Artificial Ingredients Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavor enhancers, and 150 other artificial ingredients are being nixed from Panera’s menu by the end of 2016, the restaurant chain announced in May 2015. Panera uses more than 450 ingredients to prepare its food in nearly 1,900 locations across the US. In a move to protect its sales and remove one-third of its ingredients, the company created a "No No List" based on research and standards developed by Johns Hopkins, the Environmental Working Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council and various European governments, reported the New York Times. Panera said it worked with both its suppliers and their suppliers, who themselves were not always certain whether their products contained the ingredients on Panera’s list.

Kraft Mac & Cheese Goes Au Natural Moms across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when Kraft Foods, after an onslaught by bloggers and food activists, announced in April 2015 that it would remove artificial colors and preservatives in the U.S. version of its iconic Macaroni & Cheese by January 2016. Kraft says it will replace synthetic colors — including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 — with naturally derived colors such as paprika, annatto and turmeric – the way it's been formulated in Europe for years.

PepsiCo Removes Aspartame from Diet Pepsi; Adds Sucralose Instead PepsiCo announced it is removing aspartame, first sold under the brand name NutraSweet, from Diet Pepsi by August 2015 in response to customer feedback, and replacing it with sucralose, another artificial sweetener known as Splenda. Aspartame is "literally the number-one complaint we've heard from diet-cola consumers as to why they're drinking less and less diet cola, " Seth Kaufman, SVP for PepsiCo, told NPR.

Coca-Cola: No More Fire Retardant in Soda Coca-Cola and PepsiCo both announced in May 2014 they would remove brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from all of their beverages. BVO was first patented as a flame retardant, but has also been added to many American sodas for decades, reported health expert Dr. Mercola. “Regardless of what the official statements say, the companies made this move due to consumer outrage started with an online petition…from a college student that gained over 200,000 signatures,” reported the Motley Fool.

Hershey’s Kisses Goodbye to GMO The Hershey Co. announced in February 2015 it intends to remove genetically modified ingredients from Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and its iconic Kisses – first introduced in 1907 – by the end of 2015. The company will replace sugar derived from GMO sugar beets with cane sugar, and will switch to a non-GMO soy lecithin as it pledged to focus on "simple ingredients." It will also remove the emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and artificial vanillin in its products. Hershey in December 2014 said it would work to replace high-fructose corn syrup in sweets including York Peppermint Patties and Almond Joy candy bars. "We are specifically looking to formulate new products and transition existing products to deliver on no artificial flavors, no synthetic colors, no high fructose corn syrup and to be gluten free," Hershey said in a statement.

Nestle Makes Over Butterfinger, Baby Ruth Not to be outdone by the Hershey Co., Nestlé USA also announced in February 2015 it would remove artificial flavors and synthetic colors, including Red 40 and Yellow 5, from all of its chocolate candy products. By the end of 2015, more than 250 products and 10 brands, including Butterfinger, Crunch, and Baby Ruth candy and Nesquik powdered drink mixes, will be free of artificial flavors and certified colors, said the company. Products will begin appearing on store shelves by mid-2015, and will be identified by a “No Artificial Flavors or Colors” claim featured on-pack.

McDonalds: No Human Antibiotics in Chicken McDonald's will stop selling chicken treated with antibiotics that are also used in human medicine, the company announced in March 2105. The phase-out will occur over the next two years, as the world's largest restaurant chain works with its suppliers, which include poultry giant Tyson Foods (see below). Chickens used by McDonald's will still be treated with antibiotics that aren't used in human medicine, reported Time Magazine. The announcement came three days after McDonald's new CEO Steve Easterbrook took over leadership of the company, when he pledged to reform McDonald's into a "modern, progressive burger company."

Tyson Removes Human Antibiotics in Poultry Operations Tyson Foods announced in April 2015 that it is striving to eliminate the use of human antibiotics from its U.S. broiler chicken flocks by September 2017. The country’s largest producer of poultry will report annually on its progress, beginning with its fiscal 2015 Sustainability Report. In October 2014, Tyson said it no longer uses antibiotics in its 35 chicken hatcheries. The company still uses antibiotics in chicken feed “when prescribed by a veterinarian to treat or prevent disease” and said the “vast majority of the antibiotics” it uses aren’t used in humans. The company said it is researching “alternative treatments and protocols that will eventually eliminate the application of any antibiotics used in human medicine from poultry feed,” Food Safety News reported. Tyson offers a completely antibiotic-free chicken under its NatureRaised Farms brand.

Subway Bows to Food Babe Over Additive After food blogger Vani Hari, also known as Food Babe, launched an online petition in early 2014 to convince Subway to remove a controversial food additive, the sandwich giant announced plans to phase it out of its fresh-baked breads, reported NPR in February 2014. The additive, azodicarbonamide, is often used by the commercial baking industry to bleach flour and condition dough. However, as the petition points out, the compound has been phased out in many other countries, and the World Health Organization has linked it to asthma in people. A spokesperson for Subway told NPR, "We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts, despite the fact that it is a USDA and FDA approved ingredient."

Dunkin’ Donuts Ditches Nanoparticles Responding to concerns that a whitening agent, titanium dioxide, is a nanoparticle that may be unsafe for human consumption, Dunkin' Donuts announced in March 2015 that it will no longer use the ingredient – also used in sunscreen and paints – in its donuts. The decision came after an environmental advocacy organization said it found titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the white powdered sugar used in Dunkin' Donuts products, based on independent laboratory tests in 2013. As You Sow, an Oakland-based group, said the small size of nanomaterials might make them more likely to enter cells, tissues and organs and cause damage. The FDA does not have a broad stance on products containing nanomaterials, saying it would make safety judgments on an individual basis, reported the Los Angeles Times. Dunkin’ Donuts said the titanium dioxide used in its products "does not meet the definition of 'nanomaterial' as outlined under FDA guidance," nonetheless it is making the change to remove the chemical from its donuts.

Yoplait Reduces Sugar Content by 25% Following Yoplait's removal of high fructose corn syrup and its discontinued used of dairy with rBGH/rBST growth hormone in 2009, the leading yogurt brand announced in May 2015 that it is reducing the sugar content in its single serve yogurt cups by 25%. The move is the latest in brand owner General Mills' efforts to provide consumers with more healthful, category-leading products, reported Food Ingredients First. In order to reduce the sugar, Yoplait included additional milk and changed the natural flavorings, the company said, adding that Yoplait contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors.

Target Repositions Food Business Toward Healthier Options Target in April 2015 named Anne Dament the company's top executive to lead the repositioning of its food business. Dament brings nearly 20 years of grocery and consumer packaged goods experience to the role, including as a buyer at Supervalu and Safeway, said Target in an April 2015 press release. Target’s food reinvention, expected to take place over the next 18 months, will emphasize six key categories that resonate most with its customers:  better-for-you snacks, coffee and tea, premium sauces and oils, specialty candy, wine and craft beer, and yogurt and granola. It will also expand the availability of natural, organic, locally grown and gluten-free choices to fit customers' wellness-focused lifestyles, the company said. Work on the reinvention is underway, with the most significant changes slated to arrive in stores in 2016.

Wendy's Goes Veggie Columbus, OH, is the test market for a new black bean veggie burger at Wendy’s, the nation’s third largest burger chain, reported the Columbus Dispatch on May 18, 2015. While petitioners at Change.org had been asking the company, founded by Dave Thomas in Columbus in 1969, for a veggie burger option, Wendy’s had been testing its black bean burger at two locations in Columbus. White Castle, another Columbus-based burger chain, tested a veggie burger last year, purchasing its patties from a New Jersey company, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, which also makes a line of frozen veggie-burger products. White Castle made the veggie burger a permanent menu item in March 2015. Additionally, in late April 2015, Wendy’s announced that it added an organic tea – Honest Tea’s Tropical Green Tea – to its permanent menu. The product began rolling out nationally in May. “While the move may seem insignificant, it’s huge for the organic food movement – taking organic beyond the world of specialty and natural foods restaurants and into the absolute mainstream of fast-food America,” said USA Today.

Editor's Note:  This blog was originally published on the website/blog of our friends and colleagues at Agrisystems International:  http://agrisysintl.com/major-food-brands-dump-the-junk/.

Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural Marketing, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and sustainable products businesses. He is the former Editorial Director of Natural Foods Merchandiser Magazine and co-founder of the LOHAS Journal.

Top Mexican Buyers to Meet Healthy Products Companies in Puerto Vallarta, January 23-25, 2015

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

Steve Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, 303.807.1042

John Pagliaro, The Mexican Healthy Products Summit, 410.828.4637

Top Mexican Buyers to Meet Healthy Products Companies in Puerto Vallarta, January 23-25, 2015

The 2nd annual invitation-only The Mexican Healthy Products Summit will connect Mexico’s major retailers with North American based healthy products companies that seek or want to expand distribution in the Mexican Market.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (July 29, 2014) – The Mexican Healthy Products Summit seeks healthy product companies interested in beginning or expanding distribution in the Mexican retail marketplace. Over 60 buyers representing six sectors of Mexican retailers will attend. These six sectors include Supercenters such as Walmart and Costco;Supermarkets such as HEB Mexico, Chedraui, and Commercial Mexicana; Specialty Health Food Stores including The Green Corner and Origenes Organicos; Pharmaciesincluding Benavides and Guadalajara; Convenience Stores such as Oxxo and Super City; and Department Stores including Liverpool and El Palacio de Hierro. 

Building off the first show’s success, exhibitors and buyers will have the opportunity to establish and build relationships in an intimate, fun setting with one-on-one meetings and networking events. Also, expert speakers will present on topics ranging fromReaching the Mexican Consumer, The Latest Healthy Lifestyle Trends and Research, and Best Export Practices.     

A New Opportunity in an Evolving Mexican Landscape

Mexico’s burgeoning healthy products market reflects a growing middle class, the government’s campaign to fight obesity through education, new food nutrition laws, and increased access to healthier products. As Mexican consumers begin to change their lifestyle habits, a variety of retailers seek to meet the demand for healthier choices. Following the inaugural 2014 Summit one retailer commented, “We are grateful for the opportunity they gave us to participate in The Summit. Recently, we had a business meeting in Mexico with one of the suppliers we met at the show. I am happy to announce that we will now offer their products in our stores. Next week, we have an appointment with another vendor who we met at The Mexican Healthy Products Summit and I am sure we will come to a deal, as we are very interested in their products.”

John Pagliaro, President of The Mexican Healthy Product Summit, has partnered with Trade Show Consulting, LLC., a seasoned trade show event producer in the US and Mexico. According to Pagliaro, “The Mexican healthy products market is rapidly expanding as consumers become more aware of how they eat and what they place in their bodies affect their overall well-being. Healthy food and personal care products are leading the way and the Mexican retail sector is looking for new products to sell.”

Todd Kluger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Lundberg Family Farms highlights the value of attending the Summit. "We had a great chance to meet retailers. In the past, we only had distribution going through distributors into Mexico, so we did not have contact with the retailers themselves. We had a real chance to sit down and talk to the retailers and discuss how we build our brand to the consumer and connect with the consumer that wants healthy and organic products."

Exhibitor Information

The Mexican Healthy Products Summit will take place January 23-25, 2015 at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  For details and to exhibit, contact John Pagliaro at john@healthyproductssummit.com or 410.828.4637 and visit www.healthyproductssummit.com.

About Trade Show Consulting, LLC

For over 22 years Trade Show Consulting has produced consumer and trade shows in the United States and Mexico and specializes in launching new events. The company researches trends, markets and attendee interests to identify potential shows to bring buyer and seller together in a neutral forum.  ExpoNext awarded Trade Show Consulting the distinguished honor of producing one of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Shows of 2012, Fabtech Mexico. For more information visit www.tradeshowconsult.com.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com 303.807.1042

2014 SOFI™ Award Finalist JJ’s Sweets® Features Cocomels®

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042

Saskia Cervantes, JJ's Sweets, saskia@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492

2014 SOFI™ Award Finalist JJ’s Sweets® Features Cocomels® Organic Coconut Milk Caramels at Summer Fancy Food Show

JJ’s Sweets®, maker of Cocomels®, will be launching nationally with its new Chocolate-Covered Cocomels® in a convenient two-pack size. Cocomels, the original coconut milk caramels™, are artisan crafted, smooth and creamy caramel confections that are gluten free, dairy free, non-GMO, vegan, and certified organic.

Visit Cocomels™ at Booth 5239 at the Summer Fancy Food Show, June 29 – July 1, 2014.

Boulder, CO (June 24, 2014) – Innovative confectioner JJ’s Sweets® is featuring its new Chocolate-Covered Cocomels® now available in a newly redesigned two-pack at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are artisan-made, smooth and creamy coconut milk caramels, enrobed in a silky layer of vegan dark chocolate. Available nationwide to retailers in July, this new package size is convenient and perfect for the everyday consumer to indulge in a delicious caramel confection, without any dairy or gluten.

“Our new Chocolate-Covered Cocomels two-pack is the perfect size and price point for customers on the go. They are presented in space saving, eye-catching display boxes - ideal for point of purchase displays and merchandising on the shelf,” said Saskia Cervantes, Director of Marketing at JJ’s Sweets.

The new product was made possible by the generous support of the Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program in the Rocky Mountain Region. Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are available in Sea Salt, Vanilla and Espresso varieties.

“We are excited to feature our new Chocolate-Covered Cocomels at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show along with our existing family of Cocomels® products. The Local Producer Loan program has allowed us to extend our product line and bring new Cocomels sizes to retailers and consumers looking for a delicious, luscious treat that is organic, gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO,” said JJ Rademaekers, Chief Candyman and Founder of JJ’s Sweets. “Our customers will be able to indulge just the right amount with this two-pack size, or if they’re feeling generous, share with a friend!” he said.

Sofi™ Award Finalist

Cocomels Sea Salt Coconut Milk Caramels, in the 3.75 oz. flagship box, has been chosen as a finalist for a 2014 Sofi™ Award in the Outstanding Confection category. The Sofi Award, which stands for “specialty outstanding food innovation,” is

known to carry great prestige in the gourmet and specialty food industry. “Our flagship boxes are our original product line. These Cocomels are presented in beautifully designed packaging. Adding a touch of tradition with modern design, the colorful and appealing boxes really stand out,” noted Rademaekers.

Retailers and foodservice buyers attending the Summer Fancy Food Show will select Sofi Award Gold Winners from the nominated Sofi Finalists.

Cocomels will exhibit at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show, North America’s largest annual specialty food and beverage event, June 29 – July 1, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. The show, now celebrating its 60th year, features 180,000 products from 80 countries showcasing the world of specialty, gourmet, natural and organic foods.

Interested companies and attendees can visit Cocomels™ at Booth #5239 at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show or contact info@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492.

About Cocomels® and JJ’s Sweets®

JJ’s Sweets®, maker of Cocomels® – The Original Coconut Milk Caramel™ – is a Boulder, CO-based company that creates innovative, artisan-crafted candy confections using sustainable practices, premium ingredients and old-world inspiration. Award-winning Cocomels are batch-cooked in copper kettles with dairy-free ingredients to create delicious, smooth and creamy caramels, which are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and USDA certified organic. Inspiration, creativity and love go into each blissfully delicious treat! Cocomels are available in four delicious flavors: Original, Sea Salt, Vanilla, and Espresso, and come in 3 convenient sizes (Single piece tubs, 3.75 oz. Flagship boxes and 1.5 oz. pocket packs). Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are available in 1 oz. two-packs, including Vanilla, Sea Salt and Espresso varieties.

Cocomels can be found nationwide at select stores including Co-ops, Whole Foods Market, Fresh and Easy, The Fresh Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Sprouts, PCC, New Leaf Market, Erewon, Lassen’s, Mother’s Market, Dean and Deluca, MOMs, and many other leading retailers throughout the U.S.

Learn more at www.cocomels.com or facebook.com/JJsSweets or twitter.com/JJscocomels. Contact info@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042

Fancy Snacking: GoOrganic Candies’ New Non-GMO Organic Fruit Chews

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Sandy Gencarelli, Hillside Candy, sandy@hillsidecandy.com, tel 973.926.2300

Fancy Snacking: GoOrganic Candies’ New Non-GMO, Certified Organic
Fruit Chews Featured at 60th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York

GoOrganic Candies will exhibit its new Certified Organic, Non-GMO Fruit Chews at the 60th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, June 29 – July 1, 2014. Visit GoOrganic’s new booth and sample its entire line of delicious, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher candies at Booth #347.

Hillside, New Jersey (June 19, 2014) – Fresh off of receiving a nomination for the Most Innovative New Products Award in the non-chocolate category by the National Confectioners Association at the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo, GoOrganic Candies will introduce its new USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified Fruit Chews to the specialty foods market at the upcoming 60th Summer Fancy Food Show, June 29 – July 1, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Featuring authentic, mouth-watering flavors from Ginger to Pomegranate, all GoOrganic Candies are dairy-free, gluten-free and certified kosher. They contain noartificial flavors, preservatives or colors, and are made in the USA. A welcome addition to GoOrganic’s popular hard candy line, the Chews come in Ginger and Fruit flavors and are a great treat for adults and kids alike because of their chewy consistency.

GoOrganic Candies, a brand of Hillside Candy, recognizes the consumer’s desire for pure ingredients in its confectionery treats. Therefore, all GoOrganic Candies carry the USDA Certified Organic designation, using only organic or all natural ingredients and produced without the use of toxic, synthetic pesticides or genetically engineered (GMO) ingredients.

GoOrganic Hard Candies come in nine delicious flavors, including Ginger, Pomegranate, Cherry, Apple, Honey, Honey Lemon, Blood Orange, Iced Mint Mango, and Ginger Xtreme. With the addition of the new Organic Chews, including Ginger and Strawberry, Raspberry, Sour Apple and Lemon Fruit Chews, the entire GoOrganic Candies line is also Non-GMO Project Verified.

Commitment to Organic, Non-GMO Ingredients

“Obtaining Non-GMO Project Verification for our entire line of candies was important to us – and to our customers. GoOrganic is committed to providing health-conscious consumers and their families with tasty treats, and also the peace of mind that we are committed to sourcing the highest quality, cleanest ingredients available,” says Sandy Gencarelli, Director of Marketing and Export Sales for Hillside Candy, maker of GoOrganic Candies.

GoOrganic Candies’ new booth will be featured at the Summer Fancy Food Show. The new booth is bigger and better with lots of room for information, samples and meetings.

GoOrganic Candy will exhibit at the 60th annual Summer Fancy Food Show, North America’s largest specialty food and beverage exposition, June 29 – July 1, 2014. The show features 180,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural and organic foods and more. Visitors will connect with 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions. Interested companies and attendees can visit GoOrganic Candies at Booth #347, and contact info@hillsidecandy.com, tel 973.926.2300.

About GoOrganic Candies

GoOrganic™ Candies are available in 3.5 oz. and 30 oz. family size gusseted pouches. Products are available in leading natural, organic and specialty food retailers including:  Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Natural Grocers, Fairway Market, Wakefern/Shoprite, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Hannaford’s, Sweet Bay, Earth Fare, Lunds & Byerly's, Hy-Vee, Sprouts Farmers Market, QFC, Mollie Stone’s, New Seasons Market, and other leading stores, and online at www.hillsidecandy.com. For wholesalers and retailers, GoOrganic™ Candies are available through UNFI, Kehe and other leading distributors.

Upcoming Events
In addition, please visit GoOrganic Candies at these upcoming food industry events:

- Natural Products Expo East, Baltimore, MD, September 17 - 20, Booth 2918

- SIAL Paris, Paris, France, October 19 - 23, Organic Trade Association Pavilion

About Hillside Candy

Hillside Candy, a family-owned business based in Hillside, NJ, and first established in 1945, prides itself on producing premium products made from only the finest ingredients. Hillside Candy offers three very distinct product lines. Each product brand enjoys widespread distribution throughout the U.S. and internationally, including GoLightly Sugar Free Candy, Hillside Sweets, a line of sugar-based hard candy, and GoOrganic Candies, providing Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified Hard Candies and Fruit Chews. Hillside Candy is a member of the Organic Trade Association. For more information, visitwww.hillsidecandy.com, info@hillsidecandy.com, tel 800.524.1304.

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Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042